Separable buckle



llarch 8, 1932. F. W. BARRETT LS-SA? SEPARABLE BUCKLE Filed Feb. 14, 1931 EY g Z ATTORNEYS Patented Mar.- s, 1932.

Y FREDERIC W.`BARRETTOF SPRINGFIELD, OHIO, y

f SEPARABLEBUCKLE Y animationen@ February 14, 1931.` seriai ira-515,806.. l

This invention relates to improvements in garment supportera` it more particularly relating to a quickly separable buckle. v

One ofthe Aobjects ofthe invention is the Y provision of an improved garment supporter having a quic-kly'separable belt buckle of inn expensive construction.

In the accompanying drawings: Fig-1 is a perspective view of a garment m4supporter in which theprinciples of my in ventionlare embodied.

Y K, Fig. 21s an enlargediear Aelevation of tne improved buckle attached to fragmentary portions of ay belt. y f

' Fig. 3 is an enlarged' vertical vsection'on the line 3-3of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is an enlargedrear view in yperspective of one ofthe buckle members shown attached to a portion of'a belt. y 2G l Fig. 5 is an enlargedrear view'in perspective of the mating buckle-member shown attached to a portion of thev belt.

Fig. v6 is an enlarged fragmentary horizon-rv ;Y' tal section on the line 6-6 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 7 is anview'of a detail on a reduced scale. c

Fig. 8 is' an enlarged vertical section on the line 8 8 of Fig. 2. Y

Fig. 9 is an enlarged rear view in perspecgii tive of a modification 'of one of the members.

Referring to the drawings, in Fig. 1 .is shown in kperspective a garment supporter in thenature'of a belt for mens wear. o Abuckle ofany well known form capable of adjusting thelengtli ofthe belt is shownin general at B, the particular buckle shown being one: c ofthe vclamping lever type. Whenit is de-v sired to addthe improved buckle tothebelt,

r the strap is severed at some convenient point, Y *w and themembers of the improved buckle Vmay be attached Vto the severed ends.- I

The strap portions after severing are represented atl and 2. One of the mating buckle members 3 is secured to the end of the pori tion 2, while the complementary member l is secured tothe end of the portion l, each member, of course being attached to the severed ends ofthe strap. f y The buckle member 3 may be of any suitcertain mechanical features suoli "as are V,to ibe described be incorporated iii tl'iedesignjof I l the memberin order to obtain the advantages of the invention. It is here 'shown as being a comparativelylarge, rectangular part to simf ulate the frame portion of Aa conventional form of belt buckle, on whose forward sur-face ornamental designs may be engraved. This vmember 3 is preferably yformed of one piece of sheetpmetal, Vshown in its fiat form'before f bending in Fig. 7,'the broken lines indicating "where'the several bendingV operations occur. Atone endof the flatblank is anextending Y portion 5 in which is 'out a comparatively deep .f V-notch, at the narrowed Aextremity of which is provided'a narrow, klongitudinal slot'ff,

the diagonal edges 7 formingthe sides* of the l V-.notch. f The portion l 5 Vis bentefover toward the' rearward side in two vbends of substan-y tially right-angle character 4to-l the form 'as i o seenin Fig.` 6,l while the edges 8 are also bent f` 'rearwardly'andenclose-the portion 5 valong its vupper and lower adjacent edges. The 'i bending ofthe edge portions 8 also bringsl overa pair of oppositelyf positionedearsf) located at thel end opposite to theportion,

the-initial bending of the ears' 9 being merely a preparatory bend. The belt `portion 2y is thenplaced in positionand the rivets ll() inserted therein and `through the. openings 1l inthe earsafterwhich thefinal bend is made and the rivets spun overor `riveted in any ysuitable manner. By the method described j the buckle member 3 presents a iinished appearance as the rivets 10are concealed below thel forwardsurface. f 4

The member ofthe buckle is in the nature Lof-a hooky member having a peculiarly 'shaped hook by the use of which great strength.. and durability is secured. This member may also be a one-piece'm'etallicmember formed from the flat sheet metal, and-is attachedtothe 5 severed end of thek strap'portion'l at the point i of severance. yIiithe presentinstance the preferred form is shown in Fig. 5, while a modii caton of the same is seen' in Fig. 9. The portion Aofthe member 4 which provides the hooked .-engagementwith thev mating buckle member isgathin, flat integral tab 12ibent at i599 able form, it being essential however, that right-angles to the'body portion, while the {100- rmember 12 extremity 12 of this tab is further bent at rifght angles as seen in Fig. 5. The bending o the tab 12 is such that when this buckle member is in position on the belt, the width of the tab will be longitudinally disposed with reference to the belt, the tab being inserted through a slitted longitudinal opening near the end of the belt portion 1, the tab projectgforwardly from the outer surface of the In applying the belt, the end of thebelt portion 1 having the tab 12 is placed to the rear of the buckle member 3 so that the tab projects into the pocket 14 which is a result of the mannervr in which the member 3 is formed and is then guided into the slot 6 by the diagonal edges 7. kSince the slot 6 is only slightly larger than the thickness of the tab 12, avery strong construction is secured, as any tendency for the tab to bend in an manner is counteracted by the parallel e ges of the slot, and the fact that the strain thereon is in the direction of the width thereof, while the extremity l2 prevents disengagement of the members. y

In the modified form, the metallic member 4 is secured to the rearward ,sidey of the strap portionfl by rivets 13', while an integral hook bent so as to overlie the outer surface of the belt at the severed end. This modified 'form may also be used with the buckle member 3, the hook 12 engagin the diagonal edges 7 as shown bythe dette line 12 in Fig. 4. f v y When inV engagement, the buckle member 3 entirely conceals ythe buckle member 4 and also the rivets 13 by which it is secured to the Vend of the belt portion 1, thereby presenting an attractive appearance. The proper tension of the belt proper is. obtainedat the buckle B, which thereafter remains in the buckled condition until a new adjustment is c to be made, separation of the belt being made by disengaging the buckle members 3 and 4 as the timerequired is much less than that required to separate the buckle B. In use, it

'is the intentionthat the buckle member 3 shall yby a flaring mouth, and a hook member consisting of a base plate attached to the inner' side of the belt, a thin fiat tab integrally formed with said base plate and extending at right angles thereto through the belt, and a thin, flat lateral projection on the free end of Said tab, said tab being adapted to enter the narrow slot with said ro'ection engaging beneath one ofthe wal s ot said slot.

2. In a belt of the character described, a quickly attachable and separable device consisting of a member simulating the frame of a conventional form of belt buckle attached to one end of the belt, the under side of said member having a narrow slot approached by a flaring mouth, a hook member attached to the other end of the belt having a flat, thin tab projecting thro the belt so positioned that its width exten s in the direction of the length of the belt, the free end of said tab being provided with a lateral rejection, said hook member being arrange to enter said slot with the projection engaging beneath one of the walls thereof.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set myhand this 12th day of February, 1931.

, FREDERIC W. BARRETT. 

